Hearts ache as Celtic clinch the Premiership title in chaos

Derek McInnes said it would be bedlam. And when the most exciting title races came down to the final seconds, chaos erupted. Unchallenged, Callum Osmand raced the length of the field and finished into an empty net to seal a fifth straight title, and hundreds of fans poured onto the pitch in pursuit. What are Hearts if they don’t break? For McInnes and his players, who had been leading since late September, a first title in 66 years eluded them in the final 15 minutes of an impressive decider. Celtic’s title keeps the Old Firm’s reign at 41 years and counting.

In this tragedy, there is a great story to be told in Martin O’Neill, who returned to Celtic and won his fourth title at the club at the age of 74, 22 years after his last. His changes, during a season in which he returned from two spells as a substitute, steered Celtic into madness and changed the game as Hearts desperately tried to hang on. Until the 87th minute, the title was headed for Tynecastle. However, just like in 1986, there was grief for Gorgie. Daizen Maeda’s finish, followed later by Osmand’s breakaway, denied the visitors an unexpected victory, in the end.

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It’s also a disgraceful way to end a very difficult season. During this massacre, it was difficult to know when the whistle was blown. McInnes and his team had already been taken off the field for safety when the stadium announcer announced that the season was over and announced that Celtic were champions. As hundreds filled the stadium, at every corner, police and administrators were slow to react. Lawrence Shankland, the captain, whose goal Hearts will win the title, had to be removed from the field surrounded by police. A number of his teammates were abused by those attacking the stadium – which was further insulted as the title was taken away. The Hearts team, some still wearing their kit, were bundled onto the bus and had already left Celtic Park within 10 minutes of full-time.

For their opponents, it was an unbelievable devastation. Their last title was in 1960. As in the past 40 years, Celtic changed them on the final day, winning their last seven games of the season to complete a remarkable comeback for a club in trouble when O’Neill was recalled in January following Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous eight-game reign. They have found breath under the legend of the club, the ability to come from behind and score late goals. Their 99th-minute winner at Motherwell on Wednesday ensured that any victory against Hearts would be enough on the final day.

But Hearts had won against Celtic in December in the first game of Nancy’s terrible eight in charge. Having done it before, Shankland said they will go with confidence and full belief in their path. Yet Celtic Park was a toxic place at the start of the season. O’Neill managed to unite a divided club: the banner displayed by the Green Brigade shows the Northern Irishman holding the Scottish Premiership trophy he last lifted in 2004. The place shook, 752 Hearts fans gathered together in the corner and went 80 to one.

McInnes expected an immediate start for Celtic. For the first 48 minutes, his side carried out an almost identical gameplan, with the call to leave out player of the year Claudio Braga to prioritize their defence, even if McInnes kept the Portuguese out with a groin problem, which was appropriate as Hearts silenced the deafening taunts that accompanied their every move. Off the ball, their defensive organization frustrated Celtic, cries of impatience as defenders Auston Trusty and Liam Scales were music to their ears. Celtic failed to find a goal for 32 minutes. Trusty was deliberately left out of football and his confidence seemed to be gone. There was another groan when Scales conceded a corner, unnecessarily in the 42nd minute.

From it, the hearts tried the desire to make episodes, Jordi Altena wanted to find Alexandros Kyziridis on the edge of the box. But he mishandled the pass and the Hearts were able to recover to settle for another. This time, Altena kept it simple and looked at the back post. He got Shankland, the captain driving his 16th of the season. On the touchline, McInnes raised a clenched fist to those in maroon whose noise was heard above the bed for the first time. With 12 minutes gone on Wednesday, Hearts are in contention for the title.

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This time Celtic’s response took six minutes. Inevitably, there will be controversy: another handball and another penalty just days after the decision at Fir Park brought Celtic within one point of Hearts. In this case, Celtic had most of the offense. The complaints came immediately when Kyziridis slipped and Kieran Tierney’s cross hit his outstretched arm as he went down. “Are you kidding?” McInnes fouled the fourth official, but referee Don Robertson pointed to the spot and VAR, this time, did not intervene. Arne Engels converted, shot under Alexander Schwolow. Celtic Park erupted in cheers, blocking the half-time whistle, signaling the start of a new game.

Sadly, injuries abounded for Hearts. Already without key duo Craig Halkett and Marc Leonard, reliable Beni Baningime was forced to pull a hamstring shortly after the restart. Pierre Landry Kabore, who started before Braga, ran down until he could not continue, causing the Portuguese to arrive late. Michael Steinwender soldiered on, continuing his dead leg run from the first half. The defender had no choice; McInnes had made five of his changes in the 67th minute. It was dangerous but the hearts needed new legs to prepare for what was to come.

O’Neill had to do that. He gambled, switching to a 3-5-2, with attacking full-backs in Daizen Maeda and James Forrest and Kelechi Iheanacho up front with the returning Osmand. A chance soon came but the Welsh substitute couldn’t find Maeda in the two-two. Engels put the free-kick over, Iheanacho hit the post, Benjamin Nygren saw a shot deflected by Schwolow, and Osmand headed home Maeda’s cross. Hearts, now hanging heavy, put up barriers and Celtic prepared for the siege: the question came down to whether they could survive. Iheanacho was inches away.

But the scope of Maeda’s goal was very clear. Having initially been given offside, the striker was on the right when he drilled the post and hit the ball which was bent by Osmand. The smell of sulfur and the sight of green smoke was in the air as the VAR looked on, the title hanging in the balance. But it came crashing down on Hearts, the tired players falling to their knees. Already, a few fans had joined the touchline crowd. In this mess, the hearts have to be reunited but the disappointment that will be difficult to process has started to sink in. Eight minutes were up but Hearts couldn’t hold back; it was a sad chase.

Then, in the final, a tired Cammy Devlin was caught on the edge of the box after goalkeeper Schwolow had headed in a late set piece. Osmand ran from one side to the other, and pandemonium broke out. After the massacre, which will have more consequences, the outflow of hearts hastened. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see these players win the title,” said O’Neill. “They gave me a reason to live. If there is harmony in this field, it’s nice to see.” It is the 14th in 15 years for Celtic. For the heartbroken, the pain of ending their 66-year wait will continue.